Indiana State University Newsroom

ISU to host jazz trio March 20

The Joe Deal Trio will be performing in Indiana State University's Recital Hall on Sunday, March 20. The concert will begin at 2 pm.

As part of the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Artist Series, the trio will perform with a double bass, piano and percussion to create the sounds of Latin jazz.

The trio has ties to Indiana State, as front man Joe Deal received a scholarship from the ISU School of Music to study double bass. While attaining his music business degree, Deal played in jazz band, jazz combos and the orchestra. He graduated in 1985.

Deal has played with a number of jazz legends during the past 26 years, including Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Heath and Ira Sullivan, among others. He's also performed for notables such as Indiana governors, senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar, as well as president George H. Bush.

Deal was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Hall of Fame in 2008.

Steve Corn plays piano for the trio. Highly skilled at both piano and organ, he has performed with many jazz names such as Jack McDuff, Cal Collins and Bobby Rosengarten. Corn has recorded two CDs with his own Corn Brothers Trio, been in a number of bands and has composed over 3,000 songs.

Rounding out the band is percussionist Kevin Johnson. After studying with LA studio great Joe Porcaro and traveling North America and Germany, he formed his own quartet and frequently performed on the Indianapolis jazz scene. Johnson has been teaching privately the last three years.

The band released an album in July 2010 called "Moods" and currently performs every Thursday night at Sullivan's Steakhouse in Indianapolis.